By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
Time is short and A.J. Stamps knows it.
“I’m on a limited schedule and limited time,” the University of Kentucky safety said.
A junior college transfer from East Mississippi Community College, it didn’t take Stamps long to make a name for himself as one of the cornerstone pieces of Kentucky’s secondary last season.
In his first game with the Wildcats, Stamps made a one-handed interception that earned him recognition nationally. Stamps went on to record four interceptions last year and his 103 return yards were the most by a Kentucky defensive back since 1981.
A big game contributor, Stamps had a clutch fourth-quarter pickoff in a 17-7 win over Vanderbilt and added an interception and two pass breakups in a 45-38 upset of South Carolina.
“By me coming in and having an impact year last year, it put me in a good situation,” Stamps said. “Hopefully my childhood dream can come true.”
Stamps made it no secret of his future intentions and has aspirations of playing at they next level.
“I want to play in the NFL one day,” he said. “I just have to come out and have another good year, be consistent and stay injury free. I want to do whatever it takes to help this team win.”
One of the team’s top returnees on defense, Stamps will be joined by veterans Fred Tiller, Cody Quinn and Marcus McWilson in the secondary.
“We have more experience than we did in the previous years,” he said. “I feel like the secondary has more experience than any position on the field. I feel like we’re going to come out and attack each and every day and get better.”
Although Kentucky has switched from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 attack, Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot considers the team’s attack more of a “multiple variety.”
“That means we’re coming from each and every aspect of the game,” Stamps said. “We’re coming with the 3-4 and the 4-3. We have all kinds of multiple defenses. We’re not one-sided. As long as I’m on the field, I’m comfortable with any (defense). It doesn’t matter. I just want to do my job.”
The Wildcats won five of their first six games last season, but fell short of reaching the postseason after dropping their last six games. For Stamps, the finish was an eye-opening experience.
“A bowl game is one our main goals this year as a team,” Stamps said. “By us winning five games and getting that close (to a bowl game) it kind of opened our eyes.”
Stamps said the Wildcats “got too complacent” winning five games in six attempts and lost focus down the stretch, resulting in the six-game slide.
“We have to be disciplined and locked in throughout the whole season,” Stamps said. “We’re more hungry and we’re (going to be) playing with a chip on our shoulder.”
Stamps said the team’s off-season workouts and mental approach will help the Wildcats avoid a repeat of last year’s letdown.
“When things aren’t going well, you just have to (be patient) and act like you are going to get another four (wins). We worked on that during the off-season, so hopefully that will help us this season coming up.”
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports reporter for KyForward.com, where this article was originally published. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com.